CYBERJAYA – Malaysia’s Health Ministry is committed to banning vape products nationwide by mid-2026, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The ministry is adopting a phased approach to the ban, with final approval dependent on Cabinet decisions.Dr Dzulkefly said an expert committee has provided detailed recommendations on the vape ban, which will be presented when the ministry tables its Cabinet memorandum.
The process will begin with banning open-system vape devices and later expand to cover all types of vaping products.“The question is no longer if we ban vaping, but when,” Dr Dzulkefly said at a press conference on September 25. He expressed hope the first phase of the ban would start around mid-2026 or in the second half of the year at the latest.
The Health Ministry is pushing forward despite the need for official Cabinet approval, which will set the final timeline. The move follows years of concern over vaping’s health impacts, with some Malaysian states already restricting vape sales licenses.The phased approach aims to ensure a gradual transition, supported by behavioral strategies to help current users quit vaping before full legal restrictions take effect.